Tompkins County lawmakers are preparing to revisit a potential local minimum wage increase after a new study found the county’s cost of living is rising faster than the state’s $16 hourly minimum wage, according to The Ithaca Voice.
Researchers cited a local living wage of $25.08 an hour for a single adult without children and estimated about 24,000 county workers earn less than that amount.
The study found housing and transportation are major drivers of living costs and concluded even modest minimum wage increases could benefit low-income workers.
Some stakeholders warned that raising wages could increase costs for small businesses, reduce economic activity or cause workers to lose eligibility for public benefits.
The study will go before the Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee on Sept. 2 and the full Legislature on Sept. 15 as lawmakers consider whether to pursue a local wage above the state minimum.
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